BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Its official. Ski season is here.
Resorts around the Lehigh Valley have either already opened or are opening this weekend.
Here’s the rundown on four to get you started:
Jack Frost, 434 Jack Frost Mountain Road, White Haven, was first in the state to open for skiing and snowboarding, at 9 a.m. Wednesday. It’s sister resort, Big Boulder, is a 15-minute drive away and hasn’t opened yet.
- Terrain parks:, 2 (Big Boulder), 1 (Jack Frost)
- Lift system: Big Boulder: 7 (2 quad, 1 triple, 1 double, 3 surface); Jack Frost: 9 (4 quads, 2 doubles, 3 surface)
“We appreciate everyone who came out today to join us,” said Tony Santora Wednesday, general manager for Jack Frost Big Boulder. “Conditions are great, and we are looking forward to an amazing season.”
Opening day activities there included a ski-through banner break on One Park slope, a live DJ slopeside, donut churro rings, swag and coffee. One Park, Snowflake, and Powder Puff slopes were opened and serviced by Pocono and Tobyhanna lifts.
Upcoming signature Jack Frost events include:
- Smore Fun, Saturdays Dec. 14-March 1
- Topsy Turvy Day, Feb. 1
- Women in Powder First Friday, Jan. 3
- Live music at E2000, the resort’s family-friendly, full-service restaurant
Jack Frost resort hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, Dec. 6, and 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Night skiing hours range from 3 p.m. to 8, 9, and 10 p.m.
Visit www.jfbb.com.for passes; lift passes, including Epic Day passes, and Pass Holder benefit tickets will not be limited. Guests who enroll in ski and ride school lessons that include lift access, employee and independent pass access, will not be impacted by the limits. My Epic app allows guests to purchase, activate and store passes online and scan their phones hands-free using low-energy Bluetooth technology, according to a release Wednesday.
Shawnee Mountain, 401 Hollow Road, East Stroudsburg will be open Friday-Sunday, Dec. 6-8, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
- 23 trails, 125 skiable acres, real-time cameras here
- Snowboarding:3,000-foot Delaware Terrain Park with multi-jumps, tabletops, spine and full-scale Rail and Jib Garden, top-to-bottom sound system, pavilion and bonfire pit. Country Club terrain park for beginners.
The resort will close Mon.-Thurs., Dec. 9-12 for snowmaking and then reopen Friday, Dec. 13 for the season, said Shawnee Marketing Director Rachel Wyckoff in an email.
“We will be open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily until night skiing opens on Dec. 20, weather permitting. Snow-tubing opens Sat., Dec. 21, weather permitting as well,” she said.
For information, call 570-844-2001 or visit their website.
Bear Creek 101 Doe Mountain Lane, Macungie, 866-754-2822
- Recently named PA’s top skiing resort and one of the nation's Top 10 resorts according to The Travel
- Skiing, snow tubing, ski lessons, rentals, apparel and tune shops, webcams here
Season pass holders and hotel guests can start skiing Saturday, Dec. 7 from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. and can get started a half hour earlier than the public on Sunday, Dec. 8, from 8:30-9 a.m.
Slopes open to the public Sunday, Dec. 8, 9 a.m.-9 p.m., then regular hours begin Mon.-Thurs. From 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Weekends 9 a.m.-9 p.m. continue Dec. 13 throughout the winter.
Blue Mountain Resort 1660 Blue Mountain Dr, Palmerton. 40 trails, 13,500 skiers/hr lift capacity, and 164 skiable acres. Opened Friday, Dec. 6, for skiers and snowboarders, and opens Saturday, Dec. 7 for snow tubing.
- Then, Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sat. & Sun., 8 a.m.-9 p.m. for skiing,
- Sat., 10 a.m.-10 p.m. for tubing
- Sun., 10 a.m.-9 p.m. retail and guest services
